Ready to drink tea grows 109 per cent as Indians brew up new tea preferences

MUMBAI: India’s love affair with tea is entering a new chapter. While the nation remains deeply attached to its daily cup of chai, consumers are increasingly embracing ready-to-drink beverages, wellness-focused brews and globally inspired flavours, according to a new analysis by Instamart.

The platform’s data, based on orders placed across more than 130 Indian cities between June 2025 and June 2026, reveals a tea market that is becoming significantly more experimental without abandoning its traditional roots.

Leading the charge is the ready-to-drink tea segment, which recorded a remarkable 109 per cent year-on-year growth, making it the fastest-growing tea category on the platform. The surge reflects growing demand for convenience as consumers increasingly opt for grab-and-go beverages that fit into busy urban lifestyles.

When it comes to flavours, Peach Tea emerged as the breakout star, posting an extraordinary 62-fold increase compared to the previous year. The flavour’s rapid rise highlights a growing appetite for fruit-infused and contemporary tea experiences among Indian consumers.

Other fast-growing varieties included Blue Pea Tea, Kombucha, Tulsi Tea and Green Tea, pointing to a broader shift towards wellness-oriented beverages and functional consumption habits.

Wellness teas as a category recorded 26 per cent year-on-year growth, driven by increasing interest in immunity, health and mindful living.

Yet for all the experimentation, India’s tea culture remains firmly anchored in tradition.

Adrak Chai retained its position as the country’s most popular tea variety, followed by plain black tea, elaichi tea, green tea and masala chai. The report noted that adrak chai ranked among the most-ordered tea options across virtually every major city, underscoring its enduring appeal across regions and demographics.

Geographically, Bengaluru topped the charts as India’s most tea-obsessed city on the platform, with Mumbai and Hyderabad following in second and third place respectively.

However, the strongest momentum is emerging beyond the metros. Bhubaneswar led growth among cities, recording a 64 per cent increase in tea orders year-on-year. Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi also featured among the fastest-growing tea markets, suggesting that evolving tea preferences are spreading well beyond India’s largest urban centres.

The analysis also found that tea shopping follows its own weekly rhythm. Sunday emerged as the most popular day for tea purchases, followed by Saturday and Thursday, indicating that consumers often stock up ahead of the work week or during weekends.

The findings paint a picture of a market where innovation and tradition are comfortably coexisting. Indians may still begin their day with a familiar cup of chai, but they are increasingly willing to experiment with new formats, flavours and wellness-driven alternatives. In other words, the country’s tea story is no longer just brewing, it is steeping in many different directions at once.